streets

Footage shows a massive crowd filling streets to honour Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader of the 2024 student-led uprising, who was shot dead by a masked gunman while leaving a Dhaka mosque. Bangladesh’s interim leader Mohammad Yunus joined mourners days after Hadi died in a Singapore hospital.

This gorgeous market town has Tudor buildings, and royal polo heritage.

If you’re dreaming of a getaway to a quintessentially British market town, complete with cobbled streets and Tudor architecture, then Midhurst in West Sussex is the place for you. Often hailed as a gem in West Sussex’s crown, it’s no wonder Midhurst has been voted one of the best places to live in the UK.

This charming, friendly town centres around a market square and boasts an abundance of historic architecture, giving it a traditional feel. It’s a magnet for the rich, famous, and even royalty, thanks to its status as the home of British polo – making it the perfect spot to try your hand at a new skill.

Notable figures such as King Charles, Prince Harry, and Prince William have all competed here, with Lady Diana Spencer making an appearance in July 1981, just days before her wedding to the then Prince of Wales.

Just a mile away from the town centre is the world-famous Cowdray Park Polo Club, host of the Gold Cup, considered one of the most significant events on the British social calendar, reports the Express.

Situated within the South Downs National Park, life in Midhurst unfolds against a backdrop of stunning landscapes, offering a tranquil atmosphere.

No visit would be complete without exploring the national park, which boasts beautiful walking trails, making it the ideal base to take in more of Midhurst’s picturesque surroundings.

Located on the River Rother, Midhurst is 20 miles inland from the English Channel and 12 miles north of Chichester.

Why not pop into The Spread Eagle? It’s one of England’s oldest coaching inns, dating back to 1430, and it’s brimming with character and charm at every turn.

A “wealth” of independent shops awaits you on West Street, Red Lion Street, Church Hill, Knockhundred Row and North Street.

Midhurst truly embodies the enchantment of Christmas, as the town is transformed into a festive wonderland adorned with twinkling lights.

Each year, the season begins with a Christmas street party, where the town’s tree and stunning lights are ceremoniously switched on. To celebrate the occasion, its numerous boutiques extend their opening hours, offering the perfect opportunity to find unique gifts.

A quintessential town has long been named one of the prettiest towns in the UK, and it’s easy to see why with its cobbled lanes and independent shops filling the quaint streets

During this time of year, there’s nothing better than wandering around a charming UK town before stopping off at a cosy pub. There’s one location that’s well worth a visit.

The unspoilt English town of Petworth in Sussex is like stepping back in time, featuring quaint cobbled lanes lined with antique emporiums. There are independent shops tucked among the streets, along with cafes, delis and inviting pubs that make for an idyllic day out.

Petworth Antiques Market itself is home to more than 40 dealers, where you can discover everything from stunning furniture pieces to ornaments and various home accessories. When peckish, pop into The Hungry Guest delicatessen on Middle Street before venturing out to explore the sprawling 700-acre Petworth Park, which lies beneath the magnificent 17th-century Petworth House.

Inside, visitors can explore the 17th-century stately home and uncover a treasure trove featuring an internationally significant collection of art and sculpture. You may even recognise it from films such as Napoleon, Rebecca, and Maleficent, as well as its appearance on Netflix’s Bridgerton.

One Tripadvisor reviewer commented: “Pretty Petsworth. Petsworth House is a beautiful period home with an amazing Mural up the staircase. The artist who painted the mural can be found hiding behind one of the pillars in the painted mural. A favourite of Turner – the famous artist who used to stay here and paint. The grounds and lake are really pretty.

“The Town nearby has some beautiful medieval houses, which are antique shops, as well as a great antique market. A great place to walk around and have afternoon tea. One of my favourite historical towns.”

Another shared: “Our first visit to Petworth and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Although the house isn’t particularly impressive from the outside, the artwork within certainly is worth viewing. We did a guided tour with an extremely knowledgeable gentleman, which was greatly enjoyable and informative.

“I’m not even a great art fan, but he brought everything to life. Afterwards, we enjoyed a coffee in the cafe and a lovely walk around the estate in the sunshine. I would say it is more suited to adults than children, but we really enjoyed our visit.”

Petworth sits just over half an hour’s drive from Chichester and approximately 50 minutes from Portsmouth. If you’re a fan of nature and wildlife, be sure to look out for the hundreds of deer that freely wander around the park.

The park is one of the best-preserved examples of an English landscape designed by the renowned Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. From here, you can enjoy stunning views of the South Downs, with the park offering the perfect vantage point.

It’s also the perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle to enjoy a refreshing walk. Not to mention that Petworth has been so highly praised, it was hailed as one of the UK’s most picturesque towns by Condé Nast Traveller earlier this year.

So, if you’re planning a day trip in the UK, consider Petworth for a delightful and tranquil outing this winter.

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FOR these streets across the UK, it’s Christmas all-year round.

From mentions of Santa’s reindeer to the festive day itself, Sun Travel has found some of the most Christmassy road names from all over the UK.

Christmas Pie Avenue, Guildford

This one takes the biscuit (or pie), really. You can’t get more festive than Christmas Pie Avenue.

Found in the village of Normandy in Surrey, the residential street, Christmas Pie Avenue, sits in the south of the village close to Wanborough Station.

The little village has a shop, café and there’s plenty of countryside too, with the closest towns being Farnborough and Guildford.

Talking to SurreyLive, Jack Kinder, vice chairman of the Normandy Historians, said: “The name comes from the family of Christmas who were prominent landowners in the 17th and 18th century.

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“The Pie part comes from the Saxon word pightle – meaning a field. There was, up until the houses were built around in the 1950s, a field called Pie Field – a triangle field near the crossroads.”

Rudolph Street, Bolton

Seven minutes from the town of Bolton is Rudolph Street.

It’s residential with around 15 addresses, so apart from houses, there’s not much going on here.

Of course, just minutes away is a whole other story with plenty to do in Bolton, from exploring the Jumbles Country Park to Smithills Open Farm.

There are also plenty of museums, like the Bolton Steam Museum, the art gallery and huge market on Ashburner Street.

There are lots of pubs too, like Pine Tree Farm, Red Lion and Elephant and Castle, which are some of the highest-rated on Tripadvisor.

Dasher Gardens, Ardrossan

Another reindeer-inspired street name is found in Ardrossan, a town on the North Ayrshire coast of Scotland.

Santa of course has nine reindeer, but this one is named after Dasher.

The little cul-de-sac sits just off Dalry Road and is minutes from the coast, where you’ll find the historical landmark of Ardrossan Castle – or rather, what’s left of it.

Across the bay is the Isle of Arran, which one Sun writer described as being ‘Scotland in Miniature’.

The little island has mountains, rolling hills and sandy beaches.

There’s a new sauna on the island too, called Stonethrow, which is right on the sand and is great for having a steam before plunging into the chilly water.

Tinsel Lane, Nuneaton

Just outside of the market town of Nuneaton, Warwickshire is a street called Tinsel Lane.

Despite its festive name, there won’t be many lights on this one, as it’s a country lane surrounded by rolling green fields.

Nonetheless, if you’re ticking off spots with Christmassy names in the UK, you really can’t leave this one off the list.

As for what to do in the town, popular attractions, Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery, historic Arbury Hall, and Hartshill Hayes Country Park.

Mistletoe Street, Durham

Heating up the romance at Christmas is the mistletoe, and this road is named after it.

Found in Durham, Mistletoe Street is minutes away from the city centre and is filled with red-brick houses.

To make it even more festive, the street right behind it is named Holly Street, so it makes for two Christmassy corners.

Durham itself is known for its top university, huge cathedral, historic cobbled streets and the River Wear.

There’s also an open-air museum called Beamish, which was a hit with Countryfile presenter Matt Baker.

Talking to Sun Travel earlier this year, he said: “It’s the best open-air museum in the world, without question.

“Basically what they do is take down buildings in the North East and put them back up at Beamish, and go around on all old trams, there’s old villages, farms – you can even stay there now and have a historic stay over at Beamish.

“It’s like Disney World for history buffs – that’s the only way I can describe it. You get transported back in time, it’s a proper immersive experience.”

Cold Christmas Lane, Hertfordshire

In Hertfordshire is Cold Christmas Lane, which leads to a hamlet called Cold Christmas in Thundridge.

While the name is very festive, there isn’t much Christmas cheer about it.

In fact quiet bleakly, the name  ‘Cold Christmas’ refers to a period of high child mortality during harsh winters.

However, just around the corner is the Hertfordshire town of Ware, which is all dressed up for Christmas, and there you’ll find plenty of pubs, like the Waterside Inn by the river.

There are also independent coffee spots, shops, and florists.

Angel Lane, Chipping Campden

The Cotswolds are known for their beauty, so it’s not too much of a surprise that you’ll find one of the prettiest street names there – Angel Lane.

Houses on Angel Lane are just as you’d imagine, made from the classic Cotswold stone and have plenty of countryside character.

If you fancy a plot on Angel Lane then you’ll have to pay a premium as the average property price is over £600,000.

Of course, the village itself is worth a gander too, with a preserved High Street from the 14th to 17th century.

Here there are gift shops like Dandelion as well as The Bantam Tea Rooms & Guest House and the Bromley’s of Cotswolds coffee shop.

For more on Christmas, this popular UK attraction with the tallest Christmas tree in the WORLD – and they need a crane to decorate it.

Plus, the UK holiday lodge where you are ‘guaranteed snow’ at Christmas with private hot tub and tree decorating.

When seven distance runners from Anaheim High waiting to cross a street near campus were struck by a car on Wednesday driven by a suspected drunk driver, it once again brought into focus the dangers coaches and athletes must deal with while training on the streets of Southern California.

For Hernan Herrera, the incident brought back memories to his senior year at Monroe High as a member of the cross-country team in 2009. He was struck by a car in North Hills that ran a red light. He said he was hospitalized for weeks with knee and pelvic injuries that required surgery and left him sidelined for months.

Herrera was 17. Now he’s the dean of students and wrestling coach at Monroe. He doesn’t see changing the practice routine used by most high schools running in the neighborhood to fulfill weekly requirements of 45 to 60 miles of training to prepare for competitions.

“Everyone understands accidents happen and there’s no one to blame other than the person behind the wheel,” Herrera said.

Yes, schools could transport students to quieter streets or hilly areas with running trails, but that would lead to additional costs and there are many schools far away from such areas.

Coaches have been assigning adults to supervise street workouts for years. Monroe coach Leo Hernandez said he got his position in 1999 because he could run with his athletes to keep watch over them.

Maybe there needs to be additional meetings and reminders for those running on sidewalks or crossing streets to be cautious and to reinforce following traffic rules while being on the lookout for distracted drivers.

Herrera said athletes must get in their workouts beyond running around the school track to be able to compete well in cross-country or distance races in track and field.

“I don’t think there’s anything to do to mitigate the situation,” he said.

Crickhowell in Powys, Wales, has been named as the UK’s Best High Street, and is a place where small businesses thrive and locals are fiercely proud of their town centre

A charming market town boasts one of Britain’s finest independent high streets.

Crickhowell in Wales has earned recognition as a thriving hub for small businesses. The town has claimed the UK’s Best High Street award and bucks the national trend with its well-loved and frequently visited shops. Remarkably, Crickhowell has no vacant units on its High Street, which features family-run establishments that have been in operation for generations.

For those seeking a peaceful pint, The Bear comes highly recommended. This historic pub spans more than six centuries and features a cobbled forecourt with an ancient archway opening onto an interior courtyard. The Good Pub Guide crowned it Inn of the Year in 2010. Though considerably younger, Webbs has been woven into the town’s fabric since 1936. The enterprise began when its founder launched a paraffin delivery service, before transforming into a hardware and ironmongers that steadily grew over the decades into today’s department store. Local commentators describe Webbs as “the grande dame of Crickhowell’s shopping scene.”

The town offers an impressive array of outstanding retailers, including Black Mountains Smokery, Minster Auctions, the award-winning Bacchus Off Licence and Antur Brew, a microbrewery, tap room and bottle shop situated on the Elvicta Estate just outside Crickhowell. In an age where the high street is slowly dying, with chain stores, vape shops and betting outlets increasingly taking over, towns like Crickhowell – where independent businesses genuinely dominate the town centre and are cherished by residents – are becoming increasingly rare.

Do you have recommendations for places you think we should visit? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

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Visit Crickhowell describes what makes the town unique. “Crickhowell High Street is one of the few shopping streets left in the country where local businesses sell local produce and local products. It recalls a long-lost era when all high streets reflected the character of their town and had their own identity. Here you will be welcomed by friendly and knowledgeable shopkeepers who take a real pride in what they sell,” its website states.

The Telegraph recently ranked Crickhowell amongst the top ten high streets in Britain. “Crickhowell is tiny, but you’ll nevertheless stop every few metres to nose around its shops… Locals have staunchly resisted the tidal wave of chains and here the great British high street lives on, with a butcher, baker and a sprinkling of independent shops from delis to art galleries and bookshops. A vision of pastel-painted Georgian loveliness, Crickhowell feels especially festive in the blue of dusk, when there’s a nip in the air and the lights are aglow in its houses and pubs,” the newspaper wrote.

Crickhowell also boasts a rich historical heritage. Crickhowell Castle began as a motte-and-bailey structure, likely constructed in the 12th century, before Sir Grimbald Pauncefote rebuilt it in stone in 1272. Whilst only remnants survive today, the Grade I listed Porth-Mawr two-storey gatehouse remains beautifully preserved and is definitely worth visiting.

These qualities have endeared the town to residents, who shared with WalesOnline why they hold it in such high regard. One local remarked: “It’s no surprise to see Crickhowell on the list, considering the Brecon Beacons town was crowned Best High Street of the Year in 2018.”

The town may be small, but it is mighty. In 2022, there was just one chain shop in the town, with locals preferring to put their money behind local butchers and bakers. Crickhowell spent years attempting to block plans for a Co-op, while locals say that the high street’s late-night shopping is like a street party.

The town’s tourism board promotes Crickhowell as an ideal base for discovering the southern Black Mountains and surrounding areas. Throughout the Christmas period, the town hosts a well-attended late-night shopping evening and festive market, featuring stalls, handcrafted items, presents and live entertainment.